Markets.com was established in 2008 and has grown to become one of the most reputable brokers. It offers a wide range of CFDs on shares, Forex, indices, commodities, cryptos, bonds and more. The broker’s large offering contains low, medium as well as high-volatility assets, thus making it appealing to traders with different risk tolerance profiles.
Compared to other options, Markets.com offers low trading fees, no commission, and a state-of-the-art platform that is easy to use. It also comes with a few key tools, including client sentiment, analyst recommendations, and insider activity, as well as a good educational section designed to assist those who are just starting with CFD trading. At the same time, it is regulated by several major regulators and its owner is Playtech, a gambling software development company, listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Regulations
Markets.com is a safe trading platform that enjoys a high level of trust among its clients. It is part of Finalto, a subsidiary of Playtech PLC, which is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index and until recently, also had shares in the online trading platform Plus500. Since Markets.com is regulated in different parts of the world, it is operated by several entities, each compliant with the local regulations regarding CFD trade.
In Europe, it is operated by Safecap Investments Limited and regulated by CySEC (the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission), while in South Africa, Markets.com is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority. More importantly, the Markets.com group has a subsidiary based and regulated in the United Kingdom. The broker was granted an FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) license. Besides, it is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in Australia and the BVI Financial Services Commission in the British Virgin Islands.
Trading Instruments
Markets.com offers a great range of trading instruments to its clients, who have unlimited access to more than 2,200 trading assets. The opportunities include contracts for difference (CFDs) on commodities, stocks, Forex, indices, bonds, ETFs, cryptos, and blends.Index Trading
With Index CFDs, traders can take part in some of the largest markets around the world. CFDs, short for contracts for difference, are agreements between the broker and traders on the difference between the open and closing trade prices. These CFDs are active for a fixed period and Index CFDs at Markets.com cover all key indices from all around the world. Stock market indices measure the performance of a certain group of companies but some indices show the strength of currency or of the companies in one particular country.
Under the Indices category, Markets.com has listed some of the most commonly traded groups of stocks. Traders here can choose from widely popular options such as the S&P/ASX 200 (Australia 200 Index), London’s FTSE100 (Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index), Dow Jones Industrial Average, which includes some of the world’s biggest companies, and NASDAQ (US 100).
Forex
With an estimated average daily turnover of more than $5 trillion, Forex is the most popular financial market among retail investors. Allowing them to trade CFDs on various currency pairs, this market has huge liquidity and can be accessed 24/7. Those who choose to trade at Markets.com can choose from more than 60 currency pairs, including major types such as the US dollar to Japanese yen exchange rate (USD/JPY) or the Euro to the US dollar, displayed as EUR/USD. The EUR/USD is currently the most traded currency pair in the world and is a preferred option for many traders and investors.
Along with highly popular pairs that include the US dollar, the platform also offers a wide range of minor and exotic currency pairs. Traders can deal in various options such as EUR/GBP, AUD/CHF, GBP/JPY, especially if they are tracking the movement of certain pairs – most pairs with the British pound, for instance, are dependent on the news and sentiments surrounding UK’s planned leaving of the European Union. The Exotic sub-category on Markets.com includes different currency pairs that are less popular among traders – EUR/RUB, USD/BRL, and GBP/RON are just some of them.
Commodities
The commodities market is probably the oldest form of trading and trading commodities with CFDs comes with a lot of benefits compared to buying or selling futures contracts. For many traders, it is much easier to deal in commodity CFDs since they do not need to own the actual commodity and simply trade at its price. Also, they can trade commodity CFDs on margin – and the margin required is much lower compared to what is needed when trading commodity futures.
At Markets.com, traders can try to make a profit from the price movement of various commonly traded commodities, but there are also futures and trading on the spot. All major commodities are offered, including metals such as gold, silver, and copper, as well as energy products like Brent oil, gas, and crude oil. The platform also offers a nice range of soft commodities like wheat, cotton, cacao, and coffee. The term “soft” refers to the fact that these commodities are grown rather than mined.
ETFs
Another commonly traded option at Markets.com is ETFs (exchange-traded funds). ETFs are pooled collections of investments and hold different assets such as commodities, company stocks, or bonds. Markets.com offers trading of some of the most widely recognized ETFs such as SPY or the SPDR S&P500 ETF Trust tracks the S&P500 Index, a benchmark for large-cap US equities. Other options within this product category are QLD (ProShares Ultra QQQ), LIT (Global Lithium and Battery Tech ETF), and many more.
Shares
One of the largest product categories listed at the Markets.com proprietary platform is Shares. It lists hundreds of companies and traders can profit from the price change of various shares. The companies represented include some of the leading names in social networks, technology, banking, and more. There are Apple, Facebook, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Netflix, Tesla Motors, Tesco, Vodafone, and more.
Cryptocurrencies
Besides, Markets.com offers its clients the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrencies as CFDs. Bitcoin is certainly the most popular cryptocurrency – it was the first one to appear and despite the recent spikes and drops in its price, it remained the most solid cryptocurrency. The platform also offers trading in its smaller, younger brother Bitcoin Cash. Also, traders can choose Litecoin, Ripple, Ethereum, and Dash.
Trading Platforms
Markets.com offers its clients its flagship trading platform Markets.com, as well as the standard MetaTrader suit. The choice of a platform would depend on their specific characteristics, the spreads, user-friendliness, and overall cost.
Platforms |
PC / MAC |
Smartphones |
Tablets |
---|---|---|---|
MetaTrader 4 | |||
MetaTrader 5 | |||
Markets.com |
Markets.com
First of all, Markets.com is quite straightforward and easy to use – the screen automatically splits into two and the different modules are linked at all times. There are multiple views of the same instrument, a long list of indicators, as well as a useful Tools section. It includes Markets.com’s Knowledge Centre, which provides less experienced traders with basic knowledge and tips from experts. It consists of live trading rooms, analysis of past sessions, video tutorials, and many more.
Moreover, the platform has a convenient Trading Calendar, which includes all upcoming events and gives access to related predictions, trends, and analysis. There are also useful links to financial news, commentaries, multi-symbol charts, insider trades, bloggers’ opinions, trader sentiments, hedge fund confidence, trends, signals, and more. The spreads are quite competitive, whereas there are no commission fees. The leverage is generous, reaching up to 1:30 for clients in EU, Australia, and the UK.
Traders outside the EU can enjoy leverage up to 1:300 and deposit bonuses. There is standard negative balance protection and clients’ funds are kept separate in segregated bank accounts. The platform is available on all modern phones and tablets, whether they run iOS or Android.
MetaTrader 4/5
Most traders would find the interface of MetaTrader 4 and its updated version, MetaTrader 5, familiar and easy to use. It comes with a few customization options, useful tools, and plenty of instruments to choose from. However, pricing here is a bit higher than it is at the company’s flagship trading platform. MetaTrader 5 is also available for desktop and mobile devices (iOS, Android).
Payment Methods
Traders who register at Markets.com will discover they can use a wide range of currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, and several other currencies. Since the platform is available in various countries, the great choice of account base currencies is very important. Another thing to take into consideration is that there are no depositing fees – all deposits are free of charge, which is great news for all traders. Moreover, withdrawals are also free. In comparison, most competitors of Markets.com charge withdrawals up to $50 per transfer.
The platform also allows clients to use a wide range of payment methods. They are all perfectly safe to use, quite convenient for most people, and quick in moving funds from one place to another. Deposits via e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are instant, as are those via Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards. Additionally, clients can make deposits using Wire Transfer, Local Bank Transfer, Sofort, and iDeal online banking payments.
Withdrawals, on the other hand, are processed within 24 hours and then may take up to 7 business days to reach the client’s account depending on the withdrawal method used. While the minimum deposit is $100, the minimum withdrawal amount varies. Of course, these limits vary depending on the region where you live.
Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
$100 | No Fees | Instant | |
$100 | No Fees | Instant | |
$100 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 | No Fees | Instant | |
$100 | No Fees | Instant | |
$100 | No Fees | Instant | |
$100 | No Fees | Instant | |
$100 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 | No Fees | Within 24 hours |
Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
$10 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$10 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 & €20 within EU | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$10 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$5 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$5 | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 & €20 within EU | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 & €20 within EU | No Fees | Within 24 hours | |
$100 & €20 within EU | No Fees | Within 24 hours |
Account Types
At Markets.com there is one main account type – the Standard account. It is suitable for both beginner and experienced traders looking to trade in multiple financial markets. Clients can access the Standard account with a deposit of only $100. The account provides a range of advanced trading tools, including fundamental, technical and sentimental indicators to assist clients in their decision making. Additionally, one can benefit from leverage of up to 1:30 when trading within the EU, FCA & ASIC entities and up to 1:300 through the FSCA & FSC institutions of Markets.com.
The spreads and leverage percentages vary across different underlying instruments and country of residence. However, the spread is very tight and there is no commission. Also, the leverage may be higher for professional account holders.
Support
To meet the demands of its clients from various countries around the world, Markets.com is available in several different languages, namely English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian, and Arabic. The site features a useful Support Centre with a FAQ-like section.
Traders can instantly contact customer support at any time on weekdays. They can call:
- +442031500380 (UK)
- +61290700431 (Australia)
- +27104470539 (S.A.)
- +35722278807 (Cyprus)
Markets.com offers customer support services to its clients through various channels of communication, including email, live chat, an online query form and phone support. The support team is available 24/5 to assist traders with their queries and concerns related to their accounts or the services offered by the broker.
Conclusion
Markets.com is a safe, reliable CFD broker that offers a feature-packed, web and mobile trading platform with low spreads and no commission fees. The broker gives its clients up to 1:300 leverage, as well as a wide range of CFDs on Forex, shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. All this situates it among the best trading platforms for European traders.